Best Laptops for ArchiCAD 21: Buyers’ Guide for ArchiCAD 21, 22, and 23

ArchiCAD is of the most used software tools in architecture-engineering-construction. It’s great because you can go through all the design steps from the concept phase till the final construction phase. If you’re an architect, and wondering what laptop to use for ArchiCAD, you’re on the right place; you’re on the right place. We’ve compiled a list of some of the best laptops for ArchiCAD available right now. But first, let’s get more info about ArchiCAD and its requirements.

What’s ArchiCAD?

ArchiCAD was developed by GRAPHISOFT and it’s a Building information modeling (BIM) software that offers computer aided solutions for handling all common aspects of aesthetics and engineering during the whole design process of the built environment — buildings, interiors, urban areas, etc.

The developers actually launch a new version of ARCHICAD every year so this means there are many good updates that come and improve the features that this software has. The latest stable version is ArchiCAD 22, and a new version was launched in 2019 too. ARCHICAD is available in more than 20 languages and the content translated is not only done for the interface but also for the tool defaults depending on the local market that we are speaking about.

What to look for when buying a laptop for ArchiCAD?

ArchiCAD 21 is one of the most popular versions of ArchiCAD, however ArchiCAD 22 and 23 are already here. When it comes to getting the best laptop for ArchiCAD 21, the requirements are the same as ArchiCAD 22 and 23.

System Requirements for Running ArchiCAD 21

• Processor: 64-bit processor with four or more cores
• RAM: 16 GB or more is recommended; for complex, detailed models 32 GB or more may be required
• Hard disk: installing ARCHICAD on a SSD (or Fusion) drive is recommended; 5 GB free disk space is required for the installation, 10 GB or more is required per active project
• Graphics card: Dedicated OpenGL 2.1 compatible graphics card with on board memory of 1024 MB or more is recommended to fully exploit hardware acceleration capabilities.
• Display: A resolution of 1440 x 900 or higher is recommended

So, a good point to start when you are looking for a laptop that can help you with the design work that you need to do is to check its performance, especially the processor that is using together with the RAM memory. This two are going to determine the speed of how ARCHICAD is going to work. 2D design and 3D modeling within ArchiCAD relies primarily on a single processor core, like many other CAD programs. Since the clockspeed of that core will determine the performance more than any other variable, a processor with a higher clockspeed is ideal.  In terms of RAM, it is recommended top get a laptop with at least 16GB of RAM, or more if you’re going to work on advanced projects.

Because ArchiCAD generates 2D and 3D at the same time if we talk about the graphics cards that work best for it is probably better if you have a recent model rather than a particular high-end one. Generally, ArchiCAD works very well with Nvidia Geforce cards found in gaming laptops. However, for manufacturing, product design, architecture and engineering applications, on a professional level, it is recommended to get an NVIDIA Quadro graphics workstation. As opposed to GeForce cards, Quadro cards are officially tested and supported by companies like Autodesk and Dassault.

The screen is also important in using this software. However, here the principle is quite simple and the bigger the screen is going to be the better you will be able to use this program. This is because there are many features that the software has to offer and in order to better use them for sure some extra space on the screen is going to be of great help.

Another thing to consider is if you will be running additional applications on this system, you should also check their system requirements, and get a laptop that best suits the needs of the application requirements collectively.

Best Laptops for ArchiCAD:

So, now that you have an idea what to look for in order to buy a laptop for ArchiCAD, let’s check some of the best laptops for ArchiCAD available right now.

• Acer Predator Helios 300 PH315-52-78VL

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First on our list, the Acer Predator Helios 300 PH315-52-78VL is one of the best laptops for ArchiCAD you can get. It has a strong Intel i7-9750H processor that goes up to 4.5 GHz speed and together with the 16GB of power for sure it is going to impress you.

Its SSD has 256GB of space and the size of the screen is 15.6 in. If you have big projects in mind you can always add some extra space. Although it is a gaming laptop because it has a powerful hardware it can work great with programs like ARCHICAD.

The construction is solid and the keyboard has also a palm-rest area ideal when you have a longer session of work up ahead.

• ASUS ROG Strix Scar III G531GV-DB76

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ASUS ROG Strix SCAR III is also on our list as it has a nice design and it has a 240 Hz screen. When you work on it you will feel like on a desktop instead of a laptop.

The i7-9750H processor has a speed of 4.5 GHz and can manage a lot of tasks. In terms of space, you get a 1TB SSD that will provide you with more than enough space for your work.

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 does a great job on the graphic side and the 16GB of RAM are really welcomed. Having 3 USB 3.0 Ports, 1 HDMI and a card reader for sure you can rely on it. The battery life is also not bad and you get around 6 hours of use.

• Dell XPS 15 7590

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Another cool laptop to use is the Dell XPS 15. It has a 15.6″ screen that is 4K UHD so you will have a great experience on the display side.

The 9th generation processor from Intel i7 is more than enough for the work that you have in mind and together with the 4GB dedicated graphics memory card, you will have a lot of performance.

Having a 1TB SSD means you will not have to worry about running out of space. There are enough ports to use and the 16GB of RAM will be very useful when running graphic software.

Its trackpad works great and the keyboard is decent. The battery life is impressive and the build really strong.

• Omen by HP 17-cb0050nr

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Even though the Omen by HP is a gaming laptop it can still be a great choice for running ArchiCAD. For what you pay, you get a 17.3″ laptop that offers that extra needed space for this kind of projects and a powerful i7 4.5 GHz processor.

The 1 TB Hybrid drive offers the much-needed space for larger projects and together with the 256GB SSD that is included, they make a great team. Having the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 means that you will be able to enjoy a great video card. It has 16GB DDR4 of RAM and its battery life can go up to 6 hours.

In terms of I/O, you will find a headphone/microphone jack, 3 USB Type-A, 1 Rj-45, 1 HDMI, 1 Mini display port and 1 media card Reader.

• MSI GS65 Stealth-667

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Another even more powerful laptop is the MSI GS65 Stealth that can be a real game-changer when you need to work on programs like ARCHICAD.

Having the new i9-9880H processor from Intel be ready for some amazing speeds, this octa core processor scored 16761 points on CPU benchmark, and can reach up to 4.8 GHz under load. In addition to that, 32GB of RAM , an SSD, and the RTX 2070 are going to power any program that you launch, including demanding CAD programs such as ArchiCAD.

This laptop also comes with a good amount of ports, including 3 USB ports, 1 USB C with Thunderbolt 3 Support, HDMI, and a minidisplay port. MSI also equipped this laptop with 3 fans, 4 exhausts, and 7 pipes to make sure the cooling is effective, even under load.

Another great thing about the MSI GS65 is how slim it is, this laptop is only 0.69 inch thick, which is pretty rare for gaming laptop. The design is also very professional, and you can bring this laptop to the office without every one staring at you!